What do you do if your strategic career requires expertise in utilizing IoT technology?

"Now days internet highways are already used for high-bandwidth content services such as videos, movies or series. But these highways can also be used for Internet of Things (IoT) applications to allow devices to communicate with each other, or people to communicate with devices, for example, to turn lights on or off at home, feed pets, open, close blinds, etc., all from a cellphone, tablet, or PC over the internet. It is also possible to use it in industry, for example, to control agricultural irrigation, monitor and control equipment and/or machinery, obtain weather sensor data, machines, and use them for planning and prevention activities."

To excel in a career that leverages IoT, one must start with a solid understanding of what IoT is and how it works. This involves comprehending the ecosystem of interconnected devices, the data they collect, and how this data can be analyzed and used to make informed decisions. For instance, in my role, I’ve seen IoT transform supply chain management by providing real-time tracking of goods, significantly reducing losses and improving efficiency.

If your strategic career necessitates expertise in utilizing IoT technology, start by deepening your understanding of IoT frameworks, protocols, and security measures. Engage in professional development through courses, certifications, and workshops focused on IoT. Network with industry experts and participate in IoT-focused conferences and seminars to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations. Collaborate with technology teams to gain hands-on experience with IoT devices and solutions. Consider practical applications of IoT in your industry and experiment with pilot projects to understand the impacts and opportunities. Regularly review and update your knowledge as IoT technologies evolve rapidly.

Start learning the fundamentals of IoT (you find many on-line courses on the matter). Then, talk to specialised IoT companies that operate in the field of interest (smart hospitals, smart cities, TelCom, etc.). You must understand the job-to-be-done and how IoT technologies can support the business case.

IoT sensors are devices that detect and measure physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, light, motion, or air quality. These sensors collect data from the surrounding environment and transmit it to IoT systems or applications for analysis and decision-making. Actuators, are devices that can control or manipulate physical systems based on input from IoT systems or applications. They can perform actions such as turning on/off lights, opening/closing valves or doors, adjusting temperatures, or activating alarms. Together, IoT sensors and actuators enable the monitoring and management of physical objects and environments in the IoT ecosystem, facilitating automation, optimization, and remote control capabilities.

A strategic career involving IoT requires a set of technical skills, such as programming (e.g., Python for device scripting), knowledge of IoT platforms (like AWS IoT Core or Microsoft Azure IoT), and understanding network protocols specific to IoT (like MQTT). These skills enable one to design, implement, and manage IoT solutions effectively.

Specialization: Consider specializing in a niche area of IoT, such as Industrial IoT (IIoT), consumer IoT, or IoT security. Career Path Planning: Define a clear career path with milestones and goals aligned with your expertise in IoT technology. Seek Leadership Roles: Aim for positions where you can influence IoT strategy within organizations or lead IoT initiatives.

Integrating IoT into business strategies can lead to innovative solutions and competitive advantages. For example, by using IoT sensors for predictive maintenance, companies can anticipate equipment failures before they occur, minimizing downtime and saving costs.

The IoT field is rapidly evolving, so continuous learning is crucial. This could involve staying updated with the latest trends, attending workshops, or obtaining certifications. Personal experience in this area includes regularly participating in webinars and online courses to stay abreast of new developments.

To enhance understanding of IoT, create a lab with sensors, actuators, and development boards. Program these boards to interact with sensors and control actuators. Integrate them with an MQTT broker on a Raspberry Pi or virtual machine for real-world simulation. Experimenting in this lab provides practical insights into IoT concepts, architecture, and implementation. Overall, setting up a laboratory environment for IoT experimentation provides invaluable hands-on experience and enhances understanding of IoT concepts, architecture, and implementation.

Building a broad network with professionals in the IoT space can provide insights into industry best practices and emerging technologies. Attending IoT conferences and joining online forums are great ways to connect with peers and experts.

Look at the customer cases mentioned in the IoT companies's website. Contact the concerned institutions and/or the IoT company that built the case. You can learn from real-world examples to strengthen the theory learned via on-line courses.

Practical experience is invaluable. Working on IoT projects, whether in a professional setting or through personal experimentation with IoT kits, helps solidify one’s understanding and skills. For example, creating a smart home setup using IoT devices can be a great learning experience.

Measure temperature and humidity by integrating an ESP32 control board with MicroPython and a DHT11 sensor. Display the data on a web server hosted on the ESP32, offering real-time monitoring. This setup combines hardware and software for IoT applications, demonstrating the versatility of ESP32 and MicroPython in sensor integration and web development.

One of the biggest challenges that I faced in my long career was that as head of operations, I was expected to eliminate manual processes entailing multiple interventions,and automate and make the processes linear using IoT. In a scenario, where the ecosystem was largely manual and paper based, the challenge was indeed monumental, but the versatility of the technology indeed helped me in achieving my objective to a large extent and in the process, helped in derisking the processes, improving efficiency and saving cost.

It’s important to also consider the ethical implications and security concerns associated with IoT. Ensuring data privacy and device security is paramount, as IoT devices can be vulnerable to hacking and data breaches.